Context:
- The Supreme Court of India has expressed concern over the continued practice of stubble burning and is considering prosecuting farmers involved in it.
- The issue arises amid persistent air pollution in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh during October–November.
- The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), set up to address air pollution in the NCR and adjoining areas, has been criticised for ineffective enforcement and political interference.
Key Highlights:
Issue: Stubble Burning and Air Pollution
- Stubble burning is a major contributor to PM2.5 and PM10 pollution in north India.
- Peaks during the post-kharif harvest season, coinciding with unfavourable meteorological conditions (low wind speed, temperature inversion).
Institutional and Governance Concerns (CAQM)
- CAQM, a statutory body, has failed to act decisively due to political pressure from states.
- Its order to ban fuel supply to end-of-life vehicles in NCR was delayed and diluted following public opposition and political intervention.
- Raises questions about institutional autonomy and credibility.
State-Level Issues
- Allegations that Punjab underreported farm fire incidents, claiming reductions despite satellite data suggesting otherwise.
- Reflects weak monitoring, poor transparency, and lack of accountability.
Judicial Observations
- Supreme Court questioned whether leniency towards farmers has worsened the problem.
- However, it also acknowledged that punitive measures alone are not a sustainable solution.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Issue & Causes:
- Stubble burning driven by short sowing window for rabi crops, lack of affordable alternatives, and high cost of residue management.
- Aggravated by meteorological factors and inter-state pollution transfer.
- Government Initiatives:
- CAQM Act, 2021, National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), subsidies for Happy Seeder, PUSA decomposer.
- Benefits of Control:
- Improved air quality, reduced health burden, and better compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
- Challenges & Impact:
- Economic stress on small farmers, weak enforcement, and politicisation of environmental regulation.
Relevant Mains Points:
- Facts & Definitions:
- Stubble Burning: Burning of crop residue after harvest to clear fields quickly.
- Particulate Matter (PM2.5/PM10): Fine pollutants causing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
- CAQM: Central statutory body for air quality management in NCR and adjoining areas.
- Conceptual Clarity & Analysis:
- Air pollution is a multi-causal, transboundary problem requiring cooperative federalism.
- Over-reliance on judicial intervention highlights executive and institutional failure.
- Way Forward (Holistic Approach):
- Incentive-based solutions: Direct cash incentives, assured procurement of crop residue, bioenergy markets.
- Technology & Infrastructure: Wider access to residue management machinery at affordable rates.
- Governance Reforms: Strengthen CAQM autonomy, transparent data sharing, and uniform enforcement.
- Regional Coordination: Joint action plans among Punjab, Haryana, UP, and Delhi.
- Balanced Policy: Avoid criminalising farmers; address economic realities alongside environmental goals.
UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):
- GS Paper II – Governance: Institutional autonomy, cooperative federalism, regulatory effectiveness.
- GS Paper III – Environment & Ecology: Air pollution, stubble burning, sustainable agriculture, environmental governance.